Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/163

 JONES

JONES

plan failed. His crew demandecl some return for their hazardous venture and Jones allowed them to seize the silver plate, but prevented them from further damaging the house. This proceeding greatly incensed tiie inliabitants of the coast and lost Jones friends both in France and America. When the prize pruperty was sold, however, Jones pui'chased the plate at an ■exorbitant price and restored it to the earl, who formally acknowledged its receipt. The exploits •of the Ranger terrified the whole sea-coasi, and the Drake set sail from Carrickfergus bay de- termined to capture the pirate. When the two vessels met, Jones disguised the Ranger as a merchantman ; captured the men on board ■a boat sent out from the Drake to determine lier character, and put out from the shore, so as to gain sea room. The armament of the two vessels was about equal and a running fire of broadsides was kept up, the well-directed fire from the Ranger playing havoc with the spars, rigging and sides of the Drake, and so disabling her that she was obliged to strike her colors. Tiie French government had now declared an alliance with the United States, and upon enter- ing the harbor of Brest with liis prize Jones re- ■ceived the first salute from a foreign power ever given to the American flag. Although a suitable vessel had been so long promised to Jones by the American commissioners, his success caused de- lays as it gave rise to jealousy on the part of the French officers. Jones wrote to the Prince of Nassau asking for a commission under the French flag. A first-class ship was offered him if he would give up his commission in the American navy and take charge of a privateering expedi- tion, organized by a party of wealthy French citizens for gain, but he i-efused to entertain the offer. Despairing of obtaining a command from congress, he went to Versailles and insisted upon being furnished with a ship. The Frencli gov- ■ernment fitted out the Dnras, formerly an old India trading ship, and Jones re-christened her the Bon Homme Richard. She was armed witii 38 guns— six 18-pounders and thirty-two 12- pounders ; her crew was composed of French peasants and British vagabond sailors, but his official roll was made up entirely of American seamen. Lieutenant Richard Dale served as sec- ond officer. The remainder of his fleet consisted of the Alliance, 36 guns, Pallas, 33 guns, Cerf, 18 guns, and Vengeance, 13 guns : all manned by French officers and crews. The Alliance was ■commanded by Pierre Landais, with whom Jones was antagonistic, and who had publicly declared, " I shall soon meet Captain Jones on shore. Then I will either kill him or he shall kill me." After a number of mishaps, on Aug. 14, 1778, the fleet put to sea and was joined by two French pri-

vateers. Jones intended to proceed to Leith, Scotland, seize the town, and by levying a ran- som on the inhabitants, secure the release of the American seamen incarcerated in British dun- geons. When within ten miles of Leith he made preparations for landing his troops, but a change of the wind blew the fleet out to sea, and al- though he determined to renew his efforts the next morning, the French officers refused to sup- port him, and as Landais had obtained from the French minister of marine a concordat binding the five captains to act together, Jones found that he had no authority to command them. The Richard, Alliance, Pallas and Vengeance proceeded south, and on August 23 ran upon a fleet of merciiantmen under convoy of the British ships of war Serapis, 44 guns, and Countess of Scarborough, 28 guns. The Pallas engaged the Countess of Scarhor on gh, which, after an hour's conflict, struck her colors. The Alliance and Vengeance held aloof from the conflict, while the Richard and the Serapis were left in single-lianded combat. The Serapis was one of the finest frigates in the Britisli navy, while the Richard was an old ship refitted as a frigate. The battle oj^ened an hour after sunset, the sea being lighted by a full moon. The ships were three miles off the cliffs of Flam borough, which were crowded with spectators, as wei'e the piers and shore-front. When abreast the Ser- apis hailed the Richard and simultaneously they both opened their broadsides. Two of the 18-pounders on the Richard burst, killing every man working them and so destroying the deck as to render useless the four remaining guns, leav- ing only six 9- and 12-pounders on the Richard, while the Serajiis had twenty 18-pounders. Broadside followed broadside, the dense smoke hiding the two ships from the spectators on shore. Wliile manoeuvring to cross the Richard's bow, the bowsprit of the Serapis crossed the deck of the Richard and Jones lashed it to the mizzen- mast,thus swinging the stern of the Serajyis around to the bow of the Richard. The rigging of the two ships became entangled and the muzzles of their guns often touched. The shots from the Richard had cut nearly through tiie masts of the Serajiis, and the 18-pouiiders of the Serajiis had torn the side of the Ricliard into one immense porthole, exposing her guns and leaving her deck supported by a framework of stanchions. Her water line was also cut and admitted torrents of water. The marines on her quarter-deck picked off the gunners on the Serajyis and in turn were swept by the storm of grapeshot from the batter- ies of their opi)Oiieiit. The battery of 12-pounders on the Ricliard was silenced and at this su- preme moment, Jones gave the order to prepare to board and that the t%vo vessels be laslied together. They were so close that wlieu loading